BREAKING: The Orlando Magic are finalizing the hire of San Antonio Spurs associate coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise's new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Sweeney broke into NBA coaching in 2011 and now lands the Magic head job as a top rising candidate.
First, I think Craig Counsell is a great manager—he's demonstrated competency managing volatile bullpen situations and league-wide is ranked by players as among the most desirable managers to play for.
I don't love his handling of the media. At the same time, I don't even think it necessarily matters either in terms of "winning games." This is purely media engagement.
I do think if coaches/execs want to be "perfect," they can learn a thing or two from past Cubs execs and coaches and others around the league (Francona, etc).
Craig's body language can be off-putting in pressers and some of his answers to questions implies that the question is "stupid," which to be fair some are. The way he handles himself in these pressers makes him seem pompous, dismissive, and unlikable.
So when Craig appears to the media in a manner that doesn't reflect how he leads a clubhouse, the "narrative" that there is a lack of fire or care or whatever starts to amplify. And strictly from a fan's point of view, I find the narrative distracting, unenjoyable, and entirely preventable by Craig himself. Nevertheless, I don't think it has any meaningful effect on the team's ability to win games and is at the end of the day not a big deal.